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Electrochemiluminescence on digital microfluidics for microRNA analysis
Mohtashim H Shamsi1, Kihwan Choi1, Alphonsus H C Ng2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St George St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3H6; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, 160 College St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3E1.
This study introduces digital microfluidics-electrochemiluminescence (DMF-ECL), a novel system for sensitive biological detection. The DMF-ECL platform accurately identifies microRNA-143 in cancer cells, distinguishing between aggressive and less aggressive cell lines.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) offers high sensitivity for biological analyses.
- Microfluidic devices enhance analytical capabilities by miniaturizing assays.
- Integrating ECL with digital microfluidics (DMF) presents an opportunity for advanced biosensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first integration of ECL with DMF (DMF-ECL).
- To characterize the performance of the novel DMF-ECL system.
- To validate the system's utility in a relevant biological application, such as microRNA detection.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ECL detectors into ITO-coated top plates of DMF devices.
- Electrochemical and ECL measurements of standard solutions (tris(phenanthroline)ruthenium(II) and tripropylamine).
- Oligonucleotide hybridization assay using magnetic particles for microRNA-143 detection.
Main Results:
- The DMF-ECL system demonstrated high specificity in detecting single nucleotide mismatches.
- Achieved a limit of detection of 1.5 femtomoles for microRNA-143.
- Successfully detected microRNA-143 in cancer cell lysates, differentiating between MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines.
Conclusions:
- The developed DMF-ECL system is a sensitive and specific platform for biological assays.
- This integration offers a valuable new tool for microfluidic-based diagnostics.
- The system shows potential for clinical applications, such as cancer biomarker detection.
